Britain has launched an inquiry into reports that millions of pounds of aid for education and the 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan', has disappeared into the depths of corruption without any benefit to the poor children the aid was intended for. Shocked by reports based on findings by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development described them as shocking allegations. <br/><br/>Reports in the British media about the corruption mentioned a figure of 340 million pounds in aid to a schools project for children under the age of 14. One audit of money earmarked for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan project found that 70 million pounds had reportedly vanished. <br/><br/>'The News of the World' quoted a report by India's Auditor General that almost 14 million pounds had been spent on items and luxuries that had nothing to do with schools. The report said that 150,000 pounds was paid into a mystery bank account with no reason given. India is one of the largest recipients of British<br/>foreign aid.